Freezing tray



Patented Mar. 27, 1951 FREEZING TRAY Robert E. Moore, Baltimore, Md., assignor to General Electric Com New York pany, a corporation of Application May 28, 1947, Serial No. 751,075

8 Claims.

My invention relates to freezing trays em- A ployed in refrigerating machines for the produc- `order to divide the tray into a number of small compartments for freezing ice in the form of small blocks or cubes. It is desirable to effect the release of the ice blocks from the partitions and from the tray Without the necessity of thawing, which would result in a loss of some of the ice.

It is an object of my invention to provide a freezing tray having a partition assembly comprising a plurality of partition elements and including an improved arrangement for facilitating the breaking loose and removal of ice blocks from the tray and the partition assembly.

It is another object of my invention to provide a partition assembly for freezing trays comprising a plurality of partition elements forming a plurality of ice block compartments and including an improved arrangement for retaining the partition elements in assembled relation and for accommodating relative movement between the partition elements to facilitate the release of ice blocks therefrom.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a partition assembly for freezing trays comprising a plurality of partition elements forming a plurality of ice block compartments and including an improved arrangement for eiecting movement of some of said partition elements to secure release of the ice blocks.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a freezing tray and partition assembly embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded View showing details of the partition elements; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation view; Fig. 4 is a vfragmentary view similar to Fig. 3 showing the ice releasing elements in a different position; and Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional elevation view similar to Fig. 3 showing the ice releasing elements in still another position.

Briefly the freezing tray illustrated in the drawings includes a shallow tray and a partition assembly removably mounted in the tray to provide a plurality of ice block compartments. The partition assembly is composed of a plurality of transverse separators and a plurality of longitudinal separators, all of the separators being assembled on a bar extending longitudinally of the tray. The separators and the bar are so related that initial turning of the bar causes a camming action which is effective to lift some of the separators relative to the others and a further turning movement of the baris effective to swing some of the separators relative to the others. The successive actions resulting from the turning of the bar effect a releaseof' the ice blocks from the separators and from the tray and move the blocks into position for ready removal from the tray.

Referring now to the drawing, I have shown a shallow rectangular freezing tray I and a removable partition assembly 2 mounted therein to provide a plurality of ice block compartments. The partition assembly includes a pluralityV of transverse separators 3 and a plurality of longitudinal separators or ice block lifters 4. In order to facilitate the arrangement of the separators as a unitary assembly and also to provide an operating element for eiiecting release of the ice blocks as hereinafter described, a cam member or bar 5 is arranged longitudinally of the tray, and alternate longitudinal and transverse separators are assembled thereon. Washers 6 and l are provided on the bar 5 adjacent the end separators. If desired, these washers may be of a resilient type adapted to snap into grooves provided in the bar in order that the partition assembly may be handied as a unit when removed from the tray. Since the partition assembly merely rests Within the tray l, it may be removed readily therefrom when desired, and it may also be used with any freezing tray having sloped sides as shown in the drawing.

in order to obtain sumcient leverage for easily releasing the ice blocks by the turning of the bar 5, an operating arm 3 is pivoted on the bar by a pivot pin Q. The operating arm 8 is shown in Fig. l in an upwardly extending position which it occupies when release of the ice blocks is being effected. During the freezing operation, the operating arm 8 may be swung about the pivot pin 9 to a horizontal position wherein it rests on the top edges of the transverse separator elements. Although the operating arm 8 has been illustrated assembled to the bar E, it will be apparent that the arm may, if desired, be made separate from the bar and adapted to be placed in engage- -flanges i5 and it.

Va narrow portion or neck 23 at the center.

ment with a projecting end of the bar when release of ice blocks is to be effected.

Referring now to Fig. 2, wherein a transverse separator element 3 is shown in detail, it can be Iseen that the separator' is provided with an opening le near its top edge for facilitating assembly of the separator on the bar 5. This openingds wider than the width 'of the bar 5 and is substantially higher than the thickness of the bar 5 in order to permit the bar to turn freely within the opening it without causing movement rof the transverse separator. Each of the longitudinal separators, or ice block litters, i includes a U- shaped upper portion H having openings l2 and i3 in the two upwardly extending sections of the U-shaped portion for facilitating assembly of the separator on the bar 5. A second portion lil is secured to the lower surface of the U-Shaped portion H in any suitable manner, as by welding, and extends downwardly therefrom to provide a wall oi an ice block compartment. To facilitate securing of the section Iii to the upper portion il the former is provided with laterally extending Similaicutwardly extending flanges i8 and is are provided at the lower eX- tremities of the section iii in order to provide a substantial surface for effecting a lifting action on the ice blocks. Each of the openings l2 and i3 is elongated and flares toward both ends from width of this narrow portion is substantially equal to the lthickness of the bar 5. The bar 5 thus may rook in the openings about its central longitudinal axis.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it can be seen that,L

in order to provide for relative movement between the longitudinal separators and the transverse separators when the bar 5 is turned, the bar is arranged to rest on the lower surface 2l lof the opening l in each of the transverse sepa- 'the tray the operating arm 8 is iirst lifted to the vertical position as shown in Fig. 1, and the arm is then forced either to the right or to the left. Assuming that the arm has been moved to the right as shown in Fig. 4, that is in a Aclockwise direction, a corresponding turning movement of the bar is efected. During this izlfiitial movement of the bar 5 to the position shown in Fig. i the bar pivots about its lower righthand edge 2d and the central portion of Athe top surface of the bar presses against the surface 22 of each Vof the longitudinal separators at the narrow central portions of the openings i2 and I3 therein. This causes a lifting of the longitudinal separators as the bar is turned and results in a relative movement of these separators with respect to the transverse separators 3, since the pressure of the righthand edge 24 of the bar against the surfaces 2l of the transverse separators prevents any movemerit of the transverse separators. The action resulting from this initial turning movement of the barv is a 'lifting action of the longitudinal separators or ice block lifters 13. The relative :movement between the longitudinal separators and theA transverse separators during this period The 4 is sucient to break the ice blocks loose from the transverse separators and from the tray. There is no turning movement of thevlongitudinal separators during this period because of the flared construction of the openings l2 and I3 therein. It can be seen from Fig. 4 that the bar 5 is able to move through the angle which the bar in that iig-ure bears to the horizontal before it comes in Contact with the surfaces 25 and 26 of the flared openings.

After the bar has been turned into contact with the surfaces 25 and 2E, a further turning movement of the bar is accompanied by a corresponding turning or swinging movement of the separators This is illustrated in Fig. 5, wherein the bar 5 has been turned through an angle greater than the limited angle shown in Fig. 4. This turning movement of the longitudinal separators results in a forcing of the loosened ice blocks on the -lefthand side of the longitudinal separators, one such ice block being indicated at '21, toward the lefthand side of the freezing tray. In order to prevent a binding of the ice blocks against the sides of the tray during this turning movement of the longitudinal separators, the sides oi the tray are inclined outwardly as indicated at 28. At the same time, it will be noted from Fig. 5 that the longitudinal separators have broken free from the righthand ice blocks, one of which is indicated at 29. Since the sections l of the longitudinal separators tend to iex during this turning movement, the ice blocks 21 are normally freed from the longitudinal separators and are moved toward the side of the tray for ready removal. However, in any event, should the ice blocks 21 stick to the separators they are forcibly broken loose when the separators are turned in the opposite direction to remove the ice blocks 29 from the tray. The ice blocks 29 have, of course, been broken loose from the separators and from the tray during the initial lifting action and the subsequent 'turning movement of the longitudinal separators to remove ice blocks 2i, and they may be easily removed when the separator is turned in the opposite, that is, counterclockwise direction. If desired, the bar 5 may, of course,

be iirst turned in a counterclockwise direction the portions adjacent the openings in the separators need be rectangular in cross section for exerting pressure against the longitudinal and transverse separators to cause the successive vlifting and Yturning movement of the longitudinal separators. f

The broad idea of providing a swinging movement of a longitudinal separator between the two members of a ypair of stationary transverse separators and about a longitudinal axis in the upper portion ,of the partition Vassembly is not my invention but is described and claimed in a copending application of Robert R. Hobson, Serial No. 750,992, led May 28, '1947, now Patent No. 2,509,000, issued on May 23, 1950 and assigned to the same assignee as the present .invention.

While I vhave illustrated speciiic embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent that my inshown and described, Aand I intendA by` the appended claims yto cover all modications Within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Lettersv Patent of the United States is;

1. In combination with a freezing tray, a partition assembly, said assembly including apar extending longitudinally of said tay, a plurality of transverse separators mounted on said bar and forming Walls of icepblocl compartments, each of said transverse separ-ators having an opening for receiving said bar, a plurality of longitudinal separators mounted on said bar and forming Walls of ice block compartments, each of said longitudinal separators having an opening 0f such size as to permit the turning of said bar through a limited angle Without resultant turning movement of said longitudinal separators, said bar engaging said longitudinal separators and said transverse separators during movement through said limited angle to lift said longitudinal separators relative to said transverse separators, and means for turning said bar through an angle greater than said limited angle whereby a turning movement is imparted to said longitudinal separators.

2. In combination with a freezing tray, a partition assembly, said assembly including a bar extending longitudinally of said tray, a plurality of transverse separators forming walls of ice block compartments and having openings therethrough, said bar extending through said openings, a plurality of longitudinal separators forming Walls of ice bloei; compartments and having openings therein for r f .iving said bar, each of said openings in said longitudinal separators having a central vertical dimension substantially equal to the thickness of the bar and flaring to- Ward both sides to provide dimensions of greater size than the 'thickness of said bar whereby said bar may be turned through a limited angle Without causing turning of said longitudinal separators, and for effecting turning or" said bar through more than said limited angle to cause turning movement of said longitudinal separators for positioninlT the ice blocks for ready removal from the tray.

3. In combination with a freezing tray, a partition assembly, said assembly7 including a bar extending longitudinally of said tray, a plurality of substantially stationary transverse separators forming Walls of ice blocs compartments, each of said transverse separators having an opening therein, said bar entendi g through said openings and resting on the bottom surface of each of said openings, a plurality of longitudinal separators mounted on bar and forming Walls of ice block compartments, cach of said longitudinal separators having an opening therein for receiving said bar, each of said openings in said longitudinal separators being substantially equal to the thickness of the bar at the center of said opening and flaring to a larger dimension at each edge, and means for turning said bar for effecting release of the ice blocks, the initial turning movement causing a pivoting said bar about its edge on said transverse separators to raise the central longitudinal axis of said bar whereby said longitudinal separators are lifted to effect a breaking loose of said ice blocks, further turning movement of said bar effecting a swinging movement of said longitudinal separators to move the yice blocks laterally of the tray.

Ll. In combination with a :freezing tray, a partition assembly, said assembly including a plurality of transverse separators formingVv/alls of ice block compartments, each of said separatorsfhaving an opening therein, a barlof rectangular cross section arrangedlongitudinallypf said tray and extending through saidopenings, said bar resting on the bottom surface ofeach of said'op'en-` ingsna plurality of longitudinal;separators,forming Walls of ice blocigfcoinpartinents,each ofwsaid longitudinal'separators having-an opening there in for receiving saidbar, each of said longiti-ivdi-y nal separatorsreins supported en seidhanaud means for turning said bar whereby said bar pivots about one edge on the bottom surfaces of said openings in said transverse separators to lift said longitudinal separators relative to said transverse separators for releasing saidice blocks.

5. In combination with a freezing tray, a partition assembly, said partition assembly including a plurality of transverse separators forming Walls of ice .block compartments, each of said transverse separators having an opening therein, a bar of rectangular cross section extending through said openings and resting on the bottom surfaces thereof, and a plurality of longitudinal separators forming Walls of ice block compartments, each of said longitudinal separators having an opening therein for mounting said longitudinal separators on said bar, each of said lastnamed openings having one vertical dimension substantially equal to the thickness of said bar and ilaring to a larger vertical dimension.

6. In combination With a freezing tray, a partition assembly, said partition assembly including a plurality of transverse separators assembled on said bar and forming Walls of ice block compartments, each of said transverse separators having an opening therein, a bar of rectangular cross section extending through said openings and resting on the bottom surfaces thereof, a plurality of longitudinal separators assembled on said bar and forming walls of ice block compartments, each of said longitudinal separators having an opening therein for mounting said longitudinal separators on said bar and means for turning said bar to lift said longitudinal separators relative to said transverse separators, each of said longitudinal separators including portions extending laterally therefrom for lifting the ice blocks adjacent thereto.

'7. In combination with a freezing tray, a par- 'tition assembly, said partition assembly including a bar of rectangular cross section extending longitudinally of said tray, a plurality of transverse separators forming Walls of ice block compartments, each of said transverse separators having an opening therein sufficiently large to permit 'turning movement of said bar therein, said bar extending through said openings and resting on the bottom surfaces thereof, a plurality of longitudinal separators forming Walls of ice block compartments, each of said longitudinal separators having an opening therein for mounting said longitudinal separators in aligned relationship on said bar, and means for turning said bar to cause said bar to pivot about an edge thereon on said bottom surfaces of said openings in said transverse separators and to engage said longitudinal separator for imparting lifting motion to said longitudinal separators relative to said transverse separators, each of said longitudinal separators including laterally extending portions for facilitating the lifting the ice blocks adjacent thereto.

8. In combination with a freezing tray having sloping side Walls, a partition assembly, said as- No referenc cited. 

